Pregnancy Symptoms

Common symptoms of pregnancy range from nausea and vomiting to leg cramps. Early symptoms include a missed period; tiredness; and tender, swollen breasts. Symptoms commonly experienced during the first trimester include constipation, frequent urination, and nosebleeds. Pregnancy symptoms associated with the second trimester include aches and pains, stretch marks, and shortness of breath. When women reach the third trimester, they may experience heartburn and hemorrhoids.

An Introduction to Pregnancy Symptoms

Symptoms of pregnancy vary for each woman. What's more, they also vary during the different stages of pregnancy and even among different pregnancies for the same woman. Just as each woman is different, so is each pregnancy.
 

Early Symptoms of Pregnancy

Early pregnancy symptoms can appear once implantation of the egg occurs, which is right around the time of a missed period.
 The first symptoms can also begin one to two weeks later.
 
Some of the first signs of pregnancy may include:
 
  • A missed period
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Frequency of urination
  • Tender, swollen breasts
  • Tiredness
  • Light bleeding, called implantation bleeding
  • Increased sensitivity to odors.
     
Unfortunately, these early symptoms can be similar to those experienced before your period. But if you do experience any of these possible early pregnancy symptoms and you have missed your period, you should take a home pregnancy test to see if you are pregnant. Some women may experience no early symptoms.
 

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
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